ALEGRE RETREAT AND DENVER COLORADO April 2016

Fred and I finally arrived at Gateway Canyon after a great long ramble across America. The resort is spectacular, set in a valley surrounded by epic red rocks. The grounds are beautiful, the food amazing and we really enjoyed the company of the other artists and their partners.

Katie Pasquini Masopust and her team put together a fabulous event. I think Katie should be a stand up comic in her next life! Or an auctioneer...there was never a dull moment.

The hotel is owned by Maureen and John Hendricks, founder of the Discovery Channel, and they were both on site to share the excitement of their fantastic car museum and the textile classes. 

My workshop was with Rosalie Dace of South Africa. We had met last year in Portland at the SAQA conference when Rosalie asked me to sit on an International panel she was presenting. The class was called "Cross Currents" and it was superb. Nancy Crow, Katie PM, Gregory Case and Cynthia Corbin offered the other classes. (We were asked not to post photos of other students' work, and mine is still in progress.)

After that we drove to Pine and Denver to spend the weekend with Mary and Steve Wilson and their gorgeous family. They are always so welcoming and fun to hang out with!

Palisade Rock 

morning hike

Katie's work

Nancy's work 

Cynthia's work

Rosalie's work

John Hendricks

I liked the hood ornaments and the blue cars.... 

Rosalie stressed the importance of being consciously aware that we are here now. X marks the spot.

My favourite picture of the divas - Cynthia, Rosalie and Nancy - rock stars in the textile world!!

walking back to the room on our last night - uncovering the moon 

brunch in Denver with the Wilsons and their lovely young men 

Red Rocks Amphitheater with Denver in the background

Mary and I, a few years after high school!

ROAD TRIP TO UTAH = BIG BLOG!

After we attended the SAQA conference in Philadelphia, we set out south towards North Carolina, then we went west and  just kept driving... hope you enjoy our adventures. We had a really memorable time. The USA is a fascinating place. 

We ended up at the Alegre Retreat at Gateway Canyon Resort - blog to follow about that.

Skyline Caverns, Front Royal, VA

mule deer along Skyline Drive through the Appalachians

Charlottesville, VA

for my Dutch people

dogwood

redbud

Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson

hanging out with Tom

Asheville NC, Biltmore, home of the Van Der Bilts

streets of Asheville, NC

Sophia, Marijo and Kevin Simpson, our lovely hosts in Asheville. Best southern cooking ever - ribs, grits and collard greens, and lots of great conversation too.

Near Cherokee. Huh! Who knew?

wild turkeys everywhere

Bentonville, Arkansas

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, built by the Walton family

Oklahoma

Palo Duro Canyon National Park, near Canyon, Texas - saw two wolves and a roadrunner

the office/van/home away from home

along the way towards Amarillo

Cadillac Ranch, TX

Route 66 is in pretty rough shape, but the food here was delicious. 

Salmon Ruins, Farmington NM - surprised a peacock and three hens

Aztec Ruins, Farmington NM - so amazing, we had the place to ourselves - magic!!!! 

like Shiprock

Zion National Park

rock squirrel 

Parawan Gap, Utah, near Cedar City - great petroglyphs

it snowed

Beaver, Utah - look who jumped on the window ledge when I was taking pictures of this abandoned house...

Bryce Canyon National Park - spectacular

Sunrise Point, Bryce Canyon

Kodachrome Park

on the hairy ride to Boulder Utah

windy day - drove over tumbleweed in Grand Junction Colorado!